What Does a Financial Accountant Do?

Learn about the education and preparation needed to become a financial accountant. Get a quick view of the requirements as well as details about degree programs, job duties and certification to find out if this is the career for you.

Financial accountants must be incredibly organized and analytical, as they often oversee proper maintenance and reporting of a company's financial statements. Financial accounting typically requires a bachelor's degree, and may require becoming a Certified Public Accountant to increase job prospects or advance a career.

Essential Information

Financial accountants work with a company's financial records to ensure that they're properly maintained and classified. They may also be responsible for tax reporting, inventory processing and program administration. These professionals usually need a bachelor's degree in accounting for entry-level employment; a master's degree may be preferred by some employers. Financial accountants who want to advance in their careers can become Certified Public Accountants (CPA) if they pass the required exam and meet their state's education, experience and other licensing requirements.

Required Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting; master's degree in accounting may be preferred

Other Requirements

CPA licensure for career advancement

Projected Job Growth (2014-2024)

11% for all accountants and auditors*

Median Salary (2016)

$51,709 annually**

Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **PayScale.com.

Financial Accountant: Job Duties

A financial accountant who is part of the accounting department at an organization often keeps records of financial statements, supervises tax payments and maintains accounts. Financial accountants may work extensively with technology to compute, maintain and classify financial records. Financial accountants may also be responsible for reconciling billing vouchers and using software applications to make financial statements public, when applicable.

Financial accountants may also be responsible for dealing with statistics and transactions as they pertain to equipment management, travel accounting, accounts payable and other finances, depending on the site at which the accountant works.

What Does a Financial CPA Do?

Financial accountants who work for a certified public accounting (CPA) firm generally work as outside consultants for various companies, keeping their financial records in order. Between the first of the year and April 15, financial accountants at CPA firms help individuals organize and file their taxes for the federal, state and local governments, as well as figure out how much money, if any, they're owed by the government.

In addition to these duties, some CPAs and other public accountants specialize in working with the government to detect white-collar crimes through financial statements and transactions. This is otherwise known as forensic accounting. These accountants may also serve as expert witnesses during trials involving white-collar crime.

Financial Accounting Office

Often businesses may have financial accounting offices, in which financial accountants and others take responsibility for the following:

Administering programs within an entity, such as travel or entertainment allowances

Salary and Career Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), accountants and auditors are predicted to see an 11% job growth from 2014-2024. PayScale.com reported in 2015 that financial accountants earned a median wage of $51,709 annually.

In summary, job growth across the field of accounting is expected to be strong in the coming years, and obtaining a Certified Public Accountant designation may help job prospects even further. Financial accountants work specifically with a company's financial statements, and are needed by private and public accounting firms, as well as by government agencies.